World Playoffs - Rule Violations

World Playoffs - Rule Violations

We’ve completed a comprehensive investigation of all alleged incidents of players looking at the venue screen at the World Playoffs. Our full rulings are posted by bitingpig below, but here’s the tl;dr:

We evaluated these cases based on intent, severity and tangible impact to the course of the game. Based on our investigation, the Azubu Frost incident is the only one where we determined there to be tangible impact – we believe other members of AzF modified their gameplay (level 1 ping and Jayce brush check) based upon the information gained. We don’t believe, however, that these actions decided the winner of the game.

Per our rules we are issuing a fine of $30,000* for unsportsmanlike conduct. Proceeds will go to our charity program in Korea.

Here are summaries of our findings on the other incidents:

Quarterfinal #4, Game 3 (CLG.EU v. Team WE) at 19:24 on the game clock – WE WeiXiao looked up at the venue screen. Practical benefits to Team WE were limited - Corki’s moves after WeiXiao’s look would have been logical, whether he saw Sona’s position on the venue screens or not. We have determined this to be unsportsmanlike and have issued a warning.

Group Stage A (IG v. SK) at 13:00 on the game clock – iG Zz1tai looked over his right shoulder at the screens. From our analysis, there was no material impact to the game. We have determined this to be unsportsmanlike and have issued a warning.

Quarterfinal #3, (restarted) Game 1 (AZF v. TSM) during game pause – TSM Dyrus turned his head to determine whether it was feasible to see the minimap screens from the stage. TSM obtained no direct meaningful benefits from Dyrus’ action as the game was restarted, but we have issued a warning.

Quarterfinal #2, Game 1 (TPA v. NaJin Sword) at 4:11 on the game clock - TPA Stanley briefly looked to his left, then looked forward and adjusted his monitor. We’ve determined he was responding to glare issues. The position of all five players of NaJin Sword was already visible to TPA at this time. While Stanley violated the referee’s instructions to look forward at all times, there was no unsportsmanlike conduct.

*20% of current tournament winnings.

We take this stuff seriously. Our rules on sportsmanlike conduct are clearly communicated to competitors, and our decisions here are based on those rules. More importantly, this sort of behavior shouldn’t have been possible in the first place, and we recognize that and have taken steps to ensure it doesn’t happen in the future.

Tournament: World Playoffs, Quarterfinal #4, Game 3Teams: CLG.EU vs. Team WE Date of Match: October 6Date of Ruling:October 9Subject: Unsportsmanlike Conduct

Facts:

Prior to the game, referees directed both teams to look forward at all times during the match. This game was the third game of the series and was restarted due to an internet failure and ultimately ended inconclusively, due to technical problems.

Between the restart and the final crash, at 19:24 on the game clock, WE WeiXiao looked up to his left and back at the venue screens. This happened shortly after a surge in crowd noise and a vuvuzela blast. Prior to WE Weixiao looking at the screens, Team WE had sufficient ward coverage to know the location of CLG.EU Froggen (Orianna) in mid, CLG.EU Yellowpete (Ezrael), who had just left top to either B or go through the jungle, CLG.EU Snoopeh (Cho'Gath), who was near wraiths, and CLG.EU Wickd (Malphite) at bottom.

Team WE did not, however, know the location of CLG.EU Krepo (Sona), who had returned to base and was moving forward in mid at the time of WE WeiXiao's look at the venue screens. Team WE had no wards at the lower part of CLG.EU's jungle.

2. Referees directed all players to face forward throughout the competition.

Analysis:

WE WeiXiao clearly turned his head to his left and looked back and upward at the venue screen. He could and should have been concerned that CLG. EU Krepo (Sona) had sneaked around him and was possibly getting ready to combo her ult with CLG.EU Wickd (Malphite). The crowd was cheering and a vuvuzela went off, so a look at the venue screens could have provided invaluable assurance that WE WeiXiao (Corki) was not about to be ganked.

Practical benefits to Team WE, however, were limited. WE WeiXiao (Corki) might have felt safer, but he slowly retreated and joined his teammates, moments later. About three seconds after WE WeiXiao's look, a WE ward revealed CLG.EU Krepo (Sona)'s location.

WE WeiXiao's look provided some useful information to him, but only for a few seconds. His in-game moves would have been logical and predictable, whether he had seen CLG.EU Krepo (Sona)'s position on the venue screens or not.

Ruling:

WE WeiXiao violated the rules by looking at the venue screens. Team WE did not obtain any significant benefits as a result.

Penalty:

WE WeiXiao is hereby warned not to engage in any further rule violations. Future violations may result in additional penalties.

2. Prior to the game, referees directed both teams to look forward at all times during the match.

Analysis:

From the evidence, it’s clear that iG Zz1tai intended to look at the screen. He craned his neck and looked up in a highly overt manner.

Before the pause, iG knew where SK Nyph1 (Nunu), SK YellOwStar (Corki), and SK kev1n (Jayce) were located. iG Zz1tai (Cassiopeia) knew that SK ocelote (Karthus) had just left the lane and was likely heading to pick up Blue. Then the pause occurred.

iG XiaoXiao (Leona) and iG Kid (Ezreal) began to converge on Blue (after it had already been taken) and Leona spotted Nunu heading to Karthus, making him turn back for a moment. The most valuable information obtainable by iG Zz1tai was that SK ocelote (Karthus) was not actually in the bush which iG Zz1tai (Cassiopeia) had blind-checked. However, the blind-check was not particularly dangerous, due to the fact that iG illuSioN (Shen) could have teleported to the location and iG Zz1tai (Cassiopeia)’s teammates were across the wall. The risk of iG Zz1tai (Cassiopeia) blind-checking the bush was limited since he knew where at least three of the SK players were located and also likely knew the approximate locations of the other two.

There is no conclusive evidence that Zzi1tai’s behavior created any meaningful actual benefits for iG

Ruling:

iG Zz1tai violated the rules by looking at the stage screens.

Penalty:

iG Zz1tai is hereby warned not to engage in any further rule violations. Further violations may result in additional penalties.

The game was paused to deal with audio/microphone malfunctions with the AzF headsets. During the pause:

TSM Chaox said that he had witnessed a member of AzF looking at the venue screens during the game. Referees didn’t independently corroborate these allegations.

TSM Dyrus looked back and up at the venue screens.

The match was then restarted as a result of AzF’s inability to fully communicate in-game (mic malfunction). Prior to the restart, referees directed both teams to look forward at all times during the match.

After the restart, TSM left its base en masse, appearing to be invading top lane/brush. At 00:15 on the game clock, Woong of AzF looked back and up to his right at the venue screens.At 00:25 on the game clock, an AzF player pinged near the lane between TSM’s top inhibitor tower and the second top lane tower.

AzF Shy (Jayce) and AzF MadLife (Blitzcrank) headed to top lane. AzF Shy (Jayce) approached the brush where TSM was headed to hide, switched to Cannon mode and fired his skillshot into the brush, landing a hit on TSM Dyrus (Darius), which gave away TSM Dyrus (Darius)’ position. AzF Shy (Jayce) then backed away.

Once AzF had confirmed that Darius was top lane with Jayce’s skillshot:

AzF sent two players deep into TSM’s red jungle to drop a sapling at wraith camp, which would ordinarily be a dangerous risk for only two players.

AzF Woong (Miss Fortune) facechecked bottom lane’s tribrush, which would have been an extremely risky move had he not known that the lane was likely unoccupied by TSM. AzF Woong (Miss Fortune) did not even cast “Make it Rain” to reveal the brush, indicating a high level of confidence that the brush was uncontested.

2. Prior to the game, referees directed both teams to look forward at all times during the match.

Analysis:

TSM Dyrus clearly turned his head to his left and looked back and upward at the venue screen, but there is no direct evidence that TSM Dyrus obtained any helpful information from this action. TSM obtained no direct meaningful benefits from TSM Dyrus’ action; the game was restarted afterward.

TSM Chaox briefly turned his head toward the AzF team to monitor them. This violation had no potential or actual gameplay benefits for TSM.

AzF Woong clearly turned his head to his right and looked back and upward at the venue screens. The potential gains from this action were not inconsequential. At 00:15 into the restarted game, AzF had no idea where TSM was located or which direction they were headed. AzF did not have Clairvoyance. By looking at the venue screens, AzF Woong stood to learn the location of all TSM champions.AzF Woong’s actions did yield tangible benefits for AzF. Once AzF learned that all five members of TSM were in the top lane area, this reduced TSM’s ability to control top lane and pressure AzF’s blue side. It also allowed AzF to more safely invade TSM’s red side.

Rulings:

TSM Chaox did not look forward at all times during the game. This was not unsportsmanlike conduct.

TSM Dyrus violated the rules by looking at the stage screens. This violation, however, did not yield any meaningful benefits for TSM.

AzF Woong violated the rules by looking at the stage screens. His actions yielded benefits for AzF in the game. Other members of AzF modified their gameplay based upon the information.

Penalties:

TSM Chaox: None.

TSM Dyrus is hereby warned not to engage in any further rule violations. Further violations may result in additional penalties.

AzF Woong committed a major infraction of the rules and the team is hereby collectively fined in the amount of 20% of the prize winnings earned by AzF as a result of advancing into the Semifinals ($150,000). AzF’s total fine for this violation is $30,000. Further violations may result in additional penalties.

Facts:
At 01:07 on the game clock, Stanley of Taipei Assassins (TPA) leaned far forward, but did not look to either side. At 4:11 on the game clock, TPA Stanley looked briefly to his left. He then looked forward and adjusted his monitor. TPA had previously complained about monitor glare issues on stage.

2. Prior to the game, referees directed both teams to look forward at all times during the match.

Analysis:
From the evidence, it’s clear that Stanley did not look at the stage screens. At 01:07, he didn’t turn toward the stage screens and, at 04:11, he didn’t incline his head upward in any perceptible way when he looked left. At the time of the behavior in question, TPA could see the position of all five NaJin Sword players on their own minimaps. There is no clear motive for TPA Stanley to look at the venue screens.

Ruling:
TPA Stanley violated the referee’s instruction to look forward at all times, but there was no unsportsmanlike conduct.